Cough it Up
Posted by Tom on January 31, 2002
Q: How could I find a Owl Pellet in the Wild?
A: Actually, it's not as difficult as it might seem. The best way is to "think like a bird" to figure out where they might be located. Since owls are nocturnal and sleep during the day and are often mobbed by other birds, they prefer dense cover for their daytime roosts. If you have a local wooded area nearby, I would go there and look for groups of evergreens that form some dense cover. Great Horned Owls are reasonably common across much of North America and are likely to be roosting in wooded areas (the larger the better)- even local city parks may house an owl or two if there is plenty of cover. Once you find some dense evergreens, look carefully around beneath the trees on the ground for pellets. Once an owl finds a good roost site, they'll use repeatedly and over time their pellets will accumulate there. If you find a good site, you may be able to pick up dozens of pellets. Good luck!
John Wiessinger ( February 1, 2002)